New Nikon macro lens with VR

I have the Sigma 105 EX DG lens which is really good, but recently read a vey good review of the new Nikon.

When last in NY I went here

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

and got a Nikon 12-24 imported model, which went home on my D70 very easily if you get my drift.

We have a Nikkor 70(80?)-200 VR which replaced a 20 yr old auto focus 80-200 about a year ago. It is a sweet, very sharp lens. Highly recommended.

Norman

Alan,

I recently purchased the new AF-S Micro Nikkor 105mm 2.8 ED. It is a stunning lens that surpasses the excellent 60mm fixed focal lens. Like all Nikon Micro lenses, it is extremenly sharp in macro to 1:1 but this lens is also very sharp in the far field. The VR addition is a logical step for macro and auto focus is extemely quick. Highly recommended.

Best regards,
Ron

Presumably these are scarey expensive?

I get reasonable results from the macro on my 35-70mm and from a little 55mm manual macro but they are not the last word in sharpness.

I have the new 100mm Micro AF-S VR. It's very good and not too expensive.

The VR is good, but I don't really think you'd benefit from using it in macro. VR gets you out of trouble to a certain extent, but doesn't replace a correctly taken shot.

Royleblue

Will check this place out. Thanks for putting me onto it.

No problem Alan.
It is a short walk from Times Square, make sure you avoid a visit to them during one of the Jewish Holidaysvwhen they tend to close, and remember the extra NY tax!

How much tax are we talking. I was in L.A. 2 years ago and could never get my head around it. I asked the limo driver (this was a free trip in case i give the impression i have more than 2 pennies to rub together which i don't) why the tax is not included in the price like vat in the U.K. and he did not know. It seems logical to me. When i suggested it may be that certain people or companies may be able to claim back the tax (like in the U.K.) he wasn't too sure on that either.

Hope this helps

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessio...pCenter/SalesTax.jsp

Thanks RoyleBlue

Yes, B&H's store is quite a place to explore. You would not believe how large it is. We go there on every visit to NYC almost like a pilgramage. The staff is very helpful, but personalities can vary widely, and you need to remember not to take a New Yorker's gruffness personally.

Norman

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Paterson:
How much tax are we talking.

If I remember correctly, sales tax in NYC is around 8%. No one in the US quotes the total after sales tax; don't ask me why. And no, there is no possibility of a refund on leaving the country.

I would not call the walk from Times Square short, but I guess that depends on perspective and physical condition. It is at least 20 min. at a brisk pace.

Norman

Shortish then

I walk a fair bit, would not say I'm in peak physical condition but cycle / walk regularly, but didn't think the walk seemed too bad.

Not at all. My wife and I like to walk as much as anyone, particularly in NYC. The walk from Times Square to B&H is in midtown NYC and quite interesting, never through any seedy neighborhoods. Still, I thought a minute estimate would be useful. It is worth mentioning that a taxi ride would likely be faster only in off peak periods.

Norman

quote:

Originally posted by RoyleBlue:
I have the Sigma 105 EX DG lens which is really good, but recently read a vey good review of the new Nikon.

When last in NY I went here

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

and got a Nikon 12-24 imported model, which went home on my D70 very easily if you get my drift.

I got the amazing Nikon 80-400 VR lens from BH, also an import. Good price, $1250 as opposed to $1450 with $100 mail in rebate for the Nikon USA 'model' (they're identical).

Only problem is, I damaged it, and Nikon USA refused to touch it as it was a 'grey market' lens. "You should have bought it from a reputable dealer" they said. I told them that I did, and that they should advise their reputable dealers to advise customers of this potential problem when buying import goods.

One to watch out for. I'd definitely use BH again, but may pay the extra for the domestic article...

Phil

quote:

Originally posted by Phil Cork:
[they should advise their reputable dealers to advise customers of this potential problem when buying import goods.

One to watch out for. I'd definitely use BH again, but may pay the extra for the domestic article...

Phil

Being fairly thorough, I checked out the ramifications of buying "grey market" camera equipment long ago. I would say that the B&H salespeople I have dealt with are way more up front about the disadvantages of "grey market" than sales people at most of their competition. It was a B&H salesperson who said that he usually only recommends items like flashes to be bought grey market as they have less liklihood of needing warrantee service than bodies or lenses.

Norman

If these fucking companies had a world wide pricing strategy instead of what they can get away with in each country, perhaps we wouldn't have to faff around trying to import 'grey' goods.

Makes me mad it does. They should honour it, its a bloody brand new Nikon lens!